Audi to launch Q2, Q5 Cross-over in 2016, full-electric car in 2018

Audi announced that it will debut the compact Q2 crossover and an all-new Q5 crossover this year, with plans to launch an all-electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in 2018.

The company said in a statement it will enter a new market segment with the Q2, which slots under the Q3 crossover as the smallest SUV of the Audi line-up. The Q2 is expected to compete with other mini SUVs like the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008.

Additionally, the company said a completely new Q5 will be unveiled this year, competing with the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC (formerly GLK) and the BMW X3.

Fully electric Q6 out 2018
Audi also plans to debut its first electric-power SUV, the Q6, in two years. Based on the e-tron Quattro concept unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Q6 will have a 500-kilometer range and be capable of wireless induction charging.

The SUV will compete directly with the seven-seat Tesla Model X, which has up to 413 kilometers driving range and will be delivered to customers starting the second half of 2016.

The company said most of its €3 billion (around P153 billion) capital expenditure for 2016 will go to developing alternative-drive systems, with half of the money going to its Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm plants. In addition, the company said it was investing further into digitalization and future technologies this year after it acquired one-third of digital-mapping company HERE for €85 million (around P4.3 billion) in December 2015.